12-15-2013

Good Morning All,

    Matthew 1:23; ““Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)”

    In many families there is a great debate; where do we spend Christmas Eve then Christmas Day at?  Are we staying home?  Are we going to parent “A”’s house or parent “B”’s house?  Maybe an uncle’s or grandparent’s or a cousin is in the mix.  If we add in re-marriages with additional familial obligations, it can get very complicated.  We often see families negotiating or trading other holidays for Christmas time.  Sometimes there can be some very heated arguments over who, where and when families get together.  The day of the week that Christmas falls on can influence where and when we meet with the family.  If and when we can get off work can influence it as well.

    Most people want to spend time with their family at this time of the year.  We value family as an important part of the Christmas holiday.  Being with our family is often what people look forward to the most and being away from our family can cause sadness and depression.  We need to be with loved ones in order to feel the comfort and security of being surrounded by our family.

    That is part of what makes this verse so special.  “They shall call his name Immanuel which means God with us.”  The Israelite who heard this would immediately think back to when the Israelite nation was wandering in the wilderness and the very Presence of God dwelt with them.  He dwelt in the Tabernacle which was constructed, according to his directions, for God to dwell in with his people. 

    Sin causes us to be separated from God but in Jesus we are with God or more importantly God is with us.  Everything we face, every struggle and pain, He is there for us.  He is there even when we don’t want him there.  At those times when we look at others in a way that is not God-pleasing, God does not abandon us; He stays with us at all times calling us back to his holy family.

     That is why we celebrate Christmas.  We celebrate the time when God chose to become involved in human existence in a very “hands on” fashion.  We celebrate the time when God energetically entered our history and changed it for us.  We are no longer a lost people, rather God is with us.  Our hope, our future is secure.  Our present, though it may be filled with struggle, does not have to be faced alone and without comfort, consolation, guidance or without any chance of hope.  Our life is filled with hope.  It is the one thing that God’s grace gives to us.  He gives us hope.  Our hope is the salvation which we have.  God is with us and we never have to be alone again.

Gracious Lord, you are with me; you guard and guide me; you bring me comfort.  You are with me and you give me hope.  Be with those who feel lost and without family at this time.  Send your Spirit to comfort them and give them the peace that only you can give.  In Your precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace

Pastor Bret